Fuel-filling aperture opening/closing device

ABSTRACT

A fuel-filling aperture open-closing device is provided in one end of a filler pipe communicating with a fuel tank. The open-closing device includes a tube member internally forming a pathway, and connected to one end of the filler pipe; a first valve device provided inside the pathway, and opening a valve by being pressed by a fuel-filling nozzle inserted from an outer end side of the pathway; and a second valve device provided on an outer end side more than the first valve device inside the pathway, and opening a valve by being pressed by the fuel-filling nozzle inserted from the outer end side of the pathway so as to allow the fuel-filling nozzle to pass through. The first valve device opens by a load smaller than that of the second valve device.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to a fuel-filling aperture opening-closingdevice which opens and closes a fuel-filling aperture of an automobileand the like.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, in the automobile and the like, there is a fuel-fillingaperture opening-closing device which blocks the fuel-filling apertureformed in one end of a filler pipe by a screw type filler cap. In suchfuel-filling aperture, at each fuel filling, the filler cap has to beremoved and put on so as to require additional work. Also, sometimesthere occurs a mistake of forgetting to put the removed filler cap. Inorder to solve the aforementioned problem of the fuel-filling aperture,there is a fuel-filling aperture opening-closing device which openablyand closably blocks the fuel-filling aperture by a flap valve, which canbe opened by inserting a fuel-filling nozzle (for example, PatentDocument 1).

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2010-195344

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the fuel-filling aperture opening-closing device described- in thePatent Document 1, however, the flap valve is exteriorly exposed, sothat foreign matters such as rainwater, dust, and the like easily remainon an outer surface (a face facing an opening end side of thefuel-filling aperture) of the flap valve, and in a case of push-openingthe flap valve disposed inside a pathway by an end of the fuel-fillingnozzle, the flap valve opens, and the foreign matters fall into thefiller pipe, and are attached to the end of the fuel-filling nozzle, sothat there is a possibility that the foreign matters are washed into thefiller pipe together with a fuel injection.

As for a method for solving the aforementioned problem, it is thoughtthat providing two flap valves in series makes the foreign matters moredifficult to enter into the filler pipe. However, in that case, aninsertion resistance of the fuel-filling nozzle increases, so that theremight be a problem that a smoothly inserting operation becomesdifficult, or a problem that filling a fuel accidentally starts in astate wherein the flap valve on a back side is closed due to amiscalculation of an insertion depth of the fuel-filling nozzle.

The present invention is made in view of the aforementioned background,and an object of the present invention is to facilitate an insertion ofthe fuel-filling nozzle, and to reliably open two valve bodies byinserting the fuel-filling nozzle in a fuel-filling apertureopening-closing device which opens the two valve bodies by inserting thefuel-filling nozzle.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to obtain the aforementioned object, the present invention is afuel-filling aperture open-closing device (1) provided in one end of afiller pipe (2) and communicating with a fuel tank. The fuel-fillingaperture open-closing device (1) comprises a tube member (3) internallyforming a pathway (4), and connected to one end of the filler pipe; afirst valve device (13) provided inside the pathway, and opening a valveby being pressed by a fuel-filling nozzle (100) inserted from an outerend side of the pathway; and a second valve body (14) provided on anouter end side more than the first valve device inside the pathway, andopening a valve by being pressed by the fuel-filling nozzle insertedfrom the outer end side of the pathway so as to allow the fuel-fillingnozzle to pass through. The first valve device opens the valve by a loadsmaller than that of the second valve device.

According to the configuration, due to a force (an inertia in aninsertion direction) of the fuel-filling nozzle when a second valve bodyis pushed to open by the fuel-filling nozzle, continuously, a firstvalve body can be easily pushed to open. Thereby, a condition, whereinthough the second valve body is opened, the first valve body remainsclosed, is difficult to occur.

Another aspect of the present invention is that the first valve deviceand the second valve device are disposed closely in an axis linedirection of the pathway within a range not disturbing a valve-openingmovement and a valve-closing movement.

According to the configuration, when the fuel-filling nozzle pushes toopen the second valve body, continuously, the first valve body can beeasily pushed to open further.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to the aforementioned configuration, the fuel-filling apertureopen-closing device, which opens two valve bodies by inserting thefuel-filling nozzle, facilitates the insertion of the fuel-fillingnozzle, and reliably opens the two valve bodies by inserting thefuel-filling nozzle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view showing a fuel-fillingaperture open-closing device.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state wherein thefuel-filling aperture open-closing device is disposed in an auto body.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first valve device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the first valve body.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing astate wherein the first valve device and a second valve device of thefuel-filling aperture open-closing device are blocked.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part showing astate wherein the first valve device of the fuel-filling apertureopen-closing device is blocked, and the second valve device is open.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VII-VII in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part showing astate wherein the first valve device and the second valve device of thefuel-filling aperture open-closing device are open.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing loads applied to a fuel-filling nozzle whenthe fuel-filling nozzle is inserted.

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, with reference to drawings, embodiments of the presentinvention applied to a fuel-filling aperture open-closing deviceprovided in a fuel-filling aperture of an automobile will be explainedin detail. In the following explanation, an up-and-down directionrepresents a direction along a vertical line V shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a fuel-filling aperture open-closingdevice 1 is provided in an outer end of a filler pipe 2 connected to afuel tank which is not shown in the figures; blocks the outer end of thefiller pipe 2 at a normal time; and opens the outer end of the fillerpipe 2 when a fuel-filling nozzle 100 having an appropriate diameter isinserted. In the filler pipe 2, as a standard of a longitudinaldirection, an end portion side, which becomes the fuel-filling aperture,is made as an outer end side, and an end portion side connected to thefuel tank is made as an inner end side. As shown in FIG. 1, thefuel-filling aperture open-closing device 1 includes a tube portion (atube member) 3 forming the outer end of the filler pipe 2; and a valvedevice assembly body 5 inserted into an opening end of the tube portion3, and openably and closably blocking a pathway 4 formed inside the tubeportion 3.

The filler pipe 2 is a metallic pipe material, and includes an expandingdiameter portion 8 having a circular truncated cone shape graduallyexpanding a diameter as moving to the outer end side. The tube portion 3continues to the outer end side of the expanding diameter portion 8. Thetube portion 3 has a cylindrical shape, and there is formed the openingend on the outer end side. In the opening end of the tube portion 3,there is formed an outward flange portion 9. In the present embodiment,although the tube portion 3 is configured as one portion of thefiller-pipe 2, in another embodiment, the tube portion 3 may beconfigured in a separate member from the filler pipe 2, and the tubeportion 3 may be combined with the filler pipe 2. In that case, the tubeportion 3 may be formed by a resin material.

As shown in FIG. 2, given that an axis line of the tube portion 3 is Z,the tube portion 3 is attached to an auto body panel 11 in such a waythat an angle θ between the vertical line V and the axis line Z becomeslarger than 0 degree. The angle θ is preferred to be, for example, 30 to80 degrees. Also, for the sake of explanation, a line of intersectionbetween a planar surface (a horizontal cross-sectional surface of thetube portion 3) orthogonal to the axis line Z and a planar surfaceincluding the axis line Z and the vertical line V is made as an axisline X; and a line of intersection between a planar surface orthogonalto the axis line X and a planar surface orthogonal to the axis line Z ismade as an axis line Y.

In the valve device assembly body 5, a first valve device 13 and asecond valve device 14, which are respectively a flap type valve, aredisposed in series. In a state wherein the valve device assembly body 5has been inserted into the opening end of the tube portion 3, the secondvalve device 14 is disposed on an outer end side rather than the firstvalve device 13.

The first valve device 13 includes a base member 21, and a first valvebody 22 rotatably supported in the base member 21, as main elements. Thebase member 21 has a disk shape with a thickness, and an outercircumferential portion 23 thereof is formed in a shape that can beengaged with an inner circumferential surface of a border portion 24between the tube portion 3 and the expanding diameter portion 8. Namely,the outer circumferential portion 23 of the base member 21 includes atapered portion (a circular truncated cone portion) fitting into aninner surface of the expanding diameter portion 8, and the taperedportion fits into the expanding diameter portion 8 so as to bepositioned inside the filler pipe 2. Also, in the outer circumferentialportion 23 of the base member 21, there is formed an annular seal groove26 (see FIG. 5) extending in a circumferential direction, and in theseal groove 26, there is installed an annular seal member 27. The sealmember 27 seals a gap between the base member 21 and an inner surface ofthe filler pipe 2 closely.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in a state wherein the base member 21 isattached to the filler pipe 2, in a portion between a lower half portionand a center portion in an axis line X direction of the base member 21,there is formed a first pathway 28 passing through the base member 21 ina thickness direction (an axis line Z direction). In an upper halfportion in the axis line X direction of the base member 21, there areprovided a positive pressure valve 31 and a negative pressure valve 32.The positive pressure valve 31 and the negative pressure valve 32respectively include a pathway communicating an inner end side with anouter end side of the base member 21; a valve seat provided inside thepathway; a valve body seated in the valve seat and blocking the pathway;and a compression coil spring urging the valve body to a valve seatside. In the positive pressure valve 31, in a case wherein the inner endside of the base member 21 has become a positive pressure with apredetermined value or above, the pressure moves the valve body in adirection separating from the valve seat against an urging force of thecompression coil spring to open the pathway so as to decrease thepressure on the inner end side of the base member 21. On the other hand,in the negative pressure valve 32, in a case wherein the inner end sideof the base member 21 has become a negative pressure with apredetermined value or less, the pressure moves the valve body in thedirection separating from the valve seat against the urging force of thecompression coil spring to open the pathway so as to increase thepressure on the inner end side of the base member 21. Due to operationsof the positive pressure valve 31 and the negative pressure valve 32,the inner end side of the base member 21 is prevented from becoming ahigh pressure with a predetermined value or above, or a low pressurewith a predetermined value or less.

The first valve body 22 is used for blocking the first pathway 28; andis formed by mutually overlapping and combining a first circular plate34 with a second circular plate 35. Between the first circular plate 34and the second circular plate 35, there is clamped an annular sealmember 36 whose outer diameter is larger than that of the first circularplate 34. An outer circumferential portion of the seal member 36protrudes outward in a radial direction from circumferential edgeportions of the first circular plate 34 and the second circular plate 35so as to form an annular lip piece having flexibility. Given that eachdirection is set up as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 as a standard statewherein the first valve body 22 has blocked the first pathway 28, in onecircumferential edge portion in an axis line X direction of the secondcircular plate 35, a pair of bearings 37 project. In the othercircumferential edge portion, there is projected a stopper 38 which is aprojecting piece. In the pair of bearings 37, respective axis lines areparallel to the axis line Y direction, and the pair of bearings 37 hasthe same axis, respectively.

In a portion which is the inner end side of the base member 21, andwhich is positioned on an upper side in an axis line X direction of thefirst pathway 28, there is provided a support axis 39 extending in theaxis line Y direction. The pair of bearings 37 is pivotally supported atthe support axis 39, so that the first valve body 22 is rotatablysupported relative to the base member 21. The first valve body 22rotates as a rotation axis of the support axis 39 so as to block thefirst pathway 28. In a state of a closed position wherein the firstvalve body 22 blocks the first pathway 28, the first circular plate 34is disposed on an outer end side, and enters into the first pathway 28.Also, the second circular plate 35 is disposed on an inner end side ofthe first circular plate 34, and the seal member 36 abuts against acircumferential edge portion on an inner end side of the first pathway28 so as to seal a gap between the first circular plate 34 and the firstpathway 28. At that time, the stopper 38 of the second circular plate 35abuts against an inner end side portion of the first pathway 28. Also,the first circular plate 34 abuts against a claw portion 40 projectingon a wall surface of the first pathway 28 so as to set the closedposition of the first valve body 22. A first torsion spring 50 isinstalled between the second circular plate 35 and the base member 21,and the first valve body 22 is constantly urged to the closed position.

As shown in FIG. 4, a surface 41 of the first circular plate 34 has aconcave surface which increases (protrudes to the outer end side) athickness as moving to both sides in the axis line Y direction from acenter portion. Also, on the surface 41 of the first circular plate 34,there is formed a plurality of discharge grooves 42 extending in theaxis line X direction. Each discharge groove 42 is communicated with anend surface of the first circular plate 34 on a side (i.e., a downsidein the axis line X direction of the first valve body 22) wherein thestopper 38 is provided in the axis line X direction. In each dischargegroove 42, a side (i.e., an upside in the axis line X direction of thefirst valve body 22) wherein the bearings 37 are provided in the axisline X direction may be communicated with the end surface of the firstcircular plate 34, or as shown in FIG. 4, may form a terminal end in thecenter portion of the first circular plate 34. On both end surfaces inthe axis line Y direction of the first circular plate 34, there arerespectively formed engagement holes 43 concaved to a center side of thefirst circular plate 34.

In an outer end side portion of the base member 21, there is formed apair of guide grooves 44 communicating in such a way as to sandwich fromthe axis line Y direction in an outer end side portion of the firstpathway 28. In the guide groove 44, a lock member 45 is slidablyprovided along the guide groove 44. In the axis line Y direction, thelock member 45 can slide between a position wherein one portion of thelock member 45 protrudes into the first pathway 28 and a positionwherein the whole lock member 45 enters into the guide groove 44. Also,inside the guide groove 44, there is provided a compression coil spring46, and the lock member 45 is constantly urged to a first pathway 28side by the compression coil spring 46.

In a portion facing the first pathway 28 side of the lock member 45,there is formed an engagement convex portion 47 which can enter into theengagement hole 43 of the first circular plate 34. Also, in portionsfacing the first pathway 28 side of the lock member 45, and on an outerend side and an inner end side of the engagement convex portion 47,there are formed cam portions 48 and 49 which have tapered surfaces. Ina case wherein the first valve body 22 is in the closed position, thelock member 45 engages with the engagement hole 43 of the first valvebody 22 in the engagement convex portion so as to control the firstvalve body 22 in the closed position. On the other hand, when the lockmember 45 receives a load to the inner end side in the cam portion 48,the lock member 45 moves backward in a direction entering into the guidegroove 44 to release an engagement between the engagement convex portion47 and the engagement hole 43 so as to allow a rotation of the firstvalve body 22.

In an outer end side portion of the base member 21, there is formed adischarge pathway 51 extending in the axis line X direction tocommunicate a lower portion in the axis line X direction of the firstpathway 28 with the outer circumferential portion 23 of the base member21. The discharge pathway 51 is formed in a groove shape wherein aportion communicating with the first pathway 28 is open to the outer endside. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in a portion opposed to thedischarge pathway 51 of the filler pipe 2, there is formed a dischargehole 52 which is a through-hole. Due to the aforementionedconfiguration, inside the filler pipe 2, a liquid, which has entered upto an outer end side surface of the base member 21, flows downward inthe axis line X direction due to an inclination of the base member 21,and is collected in the discharge pathway 51 so as to be discharged toan outside of the filler pipe 2 through the discharge hole 52.

The first pathway 28 blocked by the first valve body 22 forms a concaveportion in the outer end side portion of the base member 21. However,the discharge pathway 51 is communicated with the first pathway 28, sothat the liquid collected in the first pathway 28 can be reliablydischarged through the discharge pathway 51 as well.

The second valve device 14 includes a second valve body 55, and a casing57 including a second pathway 56 blocked by the second valve body 55.The casing 57 includes a cylindrical portion 58 formed in a size thatcan be inserted in the same axis as the tube portion 3 of the fillerpipe 2. An inner end side edge portion of the cylindrical portion 58 iscombined with an outer end side portion of the outer circumferentialportion 23 of the base member 21, and in an outer end side edge portion,there is formed a bulkhead portion 59 forming the second pathway 56. Thebulkhead portion 59 has a disk shape extending along a surfaceorthogonal to the axis line Z, and a circumferential edge portionthereof protrudes outward in a radial direction more than an outercircumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 58, and abuts againstthe flange portion 9 on the outer end of the filler pipe 2. The secondpathway 56 is a circular through-hole formed in a protruding end of aguide portion 61 bulged in a circular truncated cone shape from thebulkhead portion 59 to an inner end side, and is disposed in a positionwhich becomes the same axis as the first pathway 28 from a view in adirection along the axis line Z. A diameter of the second pathway 56 isset smaller than a diameter of the first pathway 28. The guide portion61 has a function guiding the fuel-filling nozzle 100 inserted from theoutside of the filler pipe 2 to the second pathway 56.

The second valve body 55 is a disk-shaped member comprising a bearing 63in a circumferential edge portion, and the bearing 63 is pivotallysupported at a support axis 64 provided in an inner end side portion ofthe bulkhead portion so as to be rotatably supported in the casing 57.The second valve body 55 can rotate between a closed position blockingthe second pathway 56 by abutting against a circumferential edge portionon the inner end side of the second pathway 56, and an open positionwhich does not overlap with the second pathway 56 from the view in thedirection along the axis line Z. Also, a second torsion spring 65 isinstalled between the second valve body 55 and the bulkhead portion 59,and the second valve body 55 is constantly urged to the closed position.

On an outer end side of the bulkhead portion 59, there is attached anannular garnish 66 whose inner diameter roughly corresponds to an outerdiameter of the guide portion 61, and whose outer diameter roughlycorresponds to an outer diameter of the bulkhead portion 59. The garnish66 enhances a design property of the fuel-filling aperture open-closingdevice 1, and protects the bulkhead portion 59.

In the present embodiment, the first valve device 13 and the secondvalve device 14 are formed by a resin material except for thecompression coil springs 46, a first torsion spring 50, and the secondtorsion spring 65. The first valve device 13 and the second valve device14 form the valve device assembly body 5 as one unit combinedbeforehand, and the valve device assembly body 5 is inserted into thetube portion 3 of the filler pipe 2 so as to form the fuel-fillingaperture open-closing device 1. In another embodiment, the tube portion3 may be configured as a resin molded article of the separate memberfrom the filler pipe 2, and the fuel-filling aperture open-closingdevice 1 may be configured by combining the first valve device 13, thesecond valve device 14, and the tube portion 3 beforehand, so that thefuel-filling aperture open-closing device 1 may be connected to theouter end of the filler pipe 2.

A distance in an axis line Z direction between the first valve device 13and the second valve device 14 is arranged by being approached within arange wherein a rotation of the second valve body 55 is not disturbed bythe first valve device (i.e., there is no first valve device 13 inside arotation trajectory of the second valve body 55).

Next, with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, a movement of the fuel-fillingaperture open-closing device 1 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 5(FIGS. 1 and 2), in a normal state wherein filling a fuel is not carriedout by the fuel-filling nozzle 100, the first valve body 22 is urged bythe first torsion spring 50 so as to block the first pathway 28, and thesecond valve body 55 is urged by the second torsion spring 65 so as toblock the second pathway 56. Also, the pair of lock members 45 is urgedby the compression coil springs 46, and is engaged with the first valvebody 22 so as to control the rotation of the first valve body 22.

From the aforementioned normal state, in a case of injecting a fuel,i.e., filling a fuel into the filler pipe 2 using the fuel-fillingnozzle 100, the cylindrical fuel-filling nozzle 100 is inserted into thesecond pathway 56 and the first pathway 28 of the fuel-filling apertureopen-closing device 1. At first, the second valve body 55 is pressed byan end of the fuel-filling nozzle 100, and is rotated against an urgingforce of the second torsion spring 65, and while opening the secondpathway 56, the fuel-filling nozzle 100 is inserted to pass through thesecond pathway 56. At that time, the second pathway 56 is set in apredetermined diameter so as to prevent an insertion of the fuel-fillingnozzle 100 whose outer diameter is larger than that of the secondpathway 56.

When the fuel-filling nozzle 100 is further inserted into an inner endside, the end of the fuel-filling nozzle 100 abuts against the camportion 48 of the pair of lock members 45. From this state, when thefuel-filling nozzle 100 is further inserted into the inner end side, asshown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the lock member 45 receives a load in thedirection entering into the guide groove 44 from the fuel-filling nozzle100 through the cam portion 48 so as to slide into the guide groove 44against an urging force of the compression coil spring 46. Thereby, theengagement between the engagement convex portion 47 and the engagementhole 43, i.e., an engagement between the lock member 45 and the firstvalve body 22 is released so as to allow the rotation of the first valvebody 22. Incidentally, in a case wherein the outer diameter of thefuel-filling nozzle 100 is smaller than a predetermined value, both ofthe pair of lock members 45 cannot move backward into the guide groove44, so that a lock of the first valve body 22 by the lock member 45cannot be released. The diameter of the fuel-filling nozzle 100 iscontrolled to a certain size or less by the second pathway 56, and iscontrolled to a certain size or above by the pair of lock members 45, sothat only the fuel-filling nozzle 100 having a predetermined diametercan open the fuel-filling aperture open-closing device 1.

After the engagement between the pair of lock members 45 and the firstvalve body 22 is released, when the fuel-filling nozzle 100 is furtherinserted into the inner end side, as shown in FIG. 8, the fuel-fillingnozzle 100 presses the first valve body 22 by the end thereof, rotatesthe first valve body 22 against an urging force of the first torsionspring 50, and while opening the first pathway 28, the fuel-fillingnozzle 100 enters into the first pathway 28. At that time, an extendingdirection of the discharge groove 42 and a sliding direction of thefuel-filling nozzle 100 on the surface 41 of the first valve body 22correspond, so that the fuel-filling nozzle 100 smoothly slides on thesurface 41 without being caught in the discharge groove 42. In a statewherein the end of the fuel-filling nozzle 100 has passed the firstpathway 28, filling a fuel is carried out from the fuel-filling nozzle100.

When the fuel-filling nozzle 100 is pulled out of the fuel-fillingaperture open-closing device 1, accompanied by a displacement of thefuel-filling nozzle 100 to an outer end side, the first valve body 22 isurged by the first torsion spring 50, moves to the closed position, andcloses the first. pathway 20. Also, the pair of lock members 45 receivesan urging force of the compression coil spring 46 so as to protrude tothe first pathway 28 side, and the engagement convex portion 47 engageswith the engagement hole 43 so as to lock the first valve body 22. Then,the second valve body 55 is urged by the second torsion spring 65, movesto the closed position, and closes the second pathway 56 so as to returnto the normal state. Incidentally, in a case wherein the fuel-fillingnozzle 100 is pulled out quickly, before the first valve body 22 reachesthe closed position, the pair of lock members 45 could come to a stateprotruding into the first pathway 28. However, in that case, the firstvalve body 22 presses the cam portion 49 of each lock member 45, andmoves to the closed position while moving each lock member 45 backwardinto the guide groove 44. After that, each lock member 45 protrudesagain, and the engagement convex portion 47 engages the engagement hole43.

An operational-effect of the fuel-filling aperture open-closing device 1according to the present embodiment will be explained. The fuel-fillingaperture open-closing device 1 does not include a screw type filler capsuch as a conventional fuel-filling aperture, and can open thefuel-filling aperture only by inserting the fuel-filling nozzle 100, sothat a fuel-filling operation can be easily carried out. Also, twovalves of the first valve device 13 and the second valve device 14 aredisposed in series so as to prevent foreign matters such as dust,rainwater, and the like from an outside from entering into the fillerpipe 2. Also, the axis line Z of the tube portion 3 of the filler pipe 2is inclined relative to the vertical line V, and in a portion facing alower side of a lateral circumferential portion, and corresponding tothe outer end side of the base member 21, there are provided thedischarge pathway 51 and the discharge hole 52 so as to discharge theforeign matters, which have passed the second valve body 55 and haveremained in an outer end side portion of the first valve device 13, tothe outside of the filler pipe 2 from the discharge hole 52. Especially,the first valve body 22 includes the discharge groove 42 on the surface41, so that the foreign matters are appropriately guided to thedischarge pathway 51 and a discharge hole 52 side. Due to theaforementioned configurations, the fuel-filling aperture open-. closingdevice 1 can open the second valve body 55 so as to wash the outer endside portion of the first valve device 13 by a water flow and the like.

Also, the first valve body 22 includes the discharge groove 42 on thesurface 41, so that when the fuel-filling nozzle 100 opens the firstvalve body 22, an area wherein the end of the fuel-filling nozzle 100slidingly contacts with the surface 41 of the first valve body 22 isreduced. Consequently, a possibility that the fuel-filling nozzle 100completely takes out the foreign matters attached to the surface 41 ofthe first valve body 22 is reduced so as to prevent the foreign mattersfrom being brought into the inner end side of the first pathway 28 bythe fuel-filling nozzle 100.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing loads where the fuel-filling nozzle 100receives from the fuel-filling aperture open-closing device 1 when thefuel-filling nozzle 100 is inserted into the fuel-filling apertureopen-closing device 1. As shown in FIG. 9, when the fuel-filling nozzle100 is inserted into the fuel-filling aperture open-closing device 1,given that the loads, where the fuel-filling nozzle 100 receives towardthe outer end side in the axis line Z direction from the second valvebody 55, the pair of lock members 45, and the first valve body 22, areF1, F2, and F3, ease of opening the second valve body 55, the pair oflock members 45, and the first valve body 22 is set to become F1>F2 andF1>F3. The amounts of the loads, provided to the fuel-filling nozzle 100from the second valve body 55, the pair of lock members 45, and thefirst valve body 22, are set mainly by changing spring constants of thesecond torsion spring 65, the compression coil spring 46, and the firsttorsion spring 50. By satisfying the aforementioned relationship of theloads F1, F2, and F3, a user (a fuel-filler) can move the pair of lockmembers 45 backward, and at the same time, can open the first valve body22, with a time when the fuel-filling nozzle 100 is inserted to open thesecond valve body 55. Namely, a user becomes difficult to sense aresistance of the pair of lock members 45 and the first valve body 22,and by a single inserting operation, the fuel-filling nozzle 100 can beeasily opened up to the first valve body. 22. Thereby, when a userinserts the fuel-filling nozzle 100, it is difficult to become acondition, wherein the first valve body 22 has not been opened thoughthe second valve body 55 has been opened. Accordingly, it is difficultfor filling a fuel, while the first valve body 22 has been closed, i.e.,in a state wherein the fuel-filling nozzle 100 has not passed the firstpathway 28.

It is preferred that the loads F2 and F3 are one-half or less of theload F1, and it is furthermore preferred that the loads F2 and F3 areone-third or less of the load F1. For example, the load F1 is 20 to 30N, and the loads F2 and F3 are approximately 10 N.

When the fuel-filling nozzle 100 is inserted into the fuel-fillingaperture open-closing device 1, in order to easily open up to the firstvalve body 22 at once when the second valve body 55 is opened, shorterstrokes (moving distances) L of the fuel-filling nozzle 100, up to aposition wherein the load F3 is applied from a position wherein the loadF1 is applied, are preferred. Also, further preferably, shapes andrelative positions of the second valve body 55 and the lock members 45may be set in such a way that the pair of lock members 45 start to movebackward before the second valve body 55 is completely opened.

The explanation of the specific embodiments has been completed here;however, the present invention is not limited to the embodimentsdescribed hereinabove, and can be widely modified. For example, the lockmembers 45 may be omitted in another embodiment.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

1 . . . a fuel-filling aperture open-closing device, 2 . . . a fillerpipe, 3 . . . a tube portion, 4 . . . a pathway, 5 . . . a valve deviceassembly body, 11 . . . an auto body panel, 13 . . . a first valvedevice, 14 . . . a second valve device, 21 . . . a base member, a firstvalve body (a valve body), 28 . . . a first pathway, discharge grooves,43 . . . engagement holes, 45 . . . lock members, 46 . . . compressioncoil springs, 47 . . . an engagement convex portion, 50 . . . a firsttorsion spring, 51 . . . a discharge pathway, 52 . . . a discharge hole,55 . . . a second valve body (an auxiliary valve body), 56 . . . asecond pathway, 65 . . . a second torsion spring, 66 . . . a garnish,100 . . . a fuel-filling nozzle

What is claimed is:
 1. A fuel-filling aperture opening-closing deviceprovided in one end of a filler pipe communicating with a fuel tank,comprising: a tube member internally forming a pathway, and connected toone end of the filler pipe; a first valve device provided inside thepathway, and opening a valve by being pressed by a fuel-filling nozzleinserted from an outer end side of the pathway; and a second valvedevice provided on an outer end side more than the first valve deviceinside the pathway, and opening a valve by being pressed by thefuel-filling nozzle inserted from the outer end side of the pathway soas to allow the fuel-filling nozzle to pass through, wherein the firstvalve device opens by a load smaller than that of the second valvedevice.
 2. A fuel-filling aperture opening-closing device according toclaim 1, wherein the first valve device and the second valve device aredisposed closely in an axis line direction of the pathway within a rangenot disturbing a valve-opening movement and a valve-closing movement.